This is a coordinated network of agencies and providers that make a full range of mental health and other necessary services available as needed by children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges, as well as co-occuring diagnoses. 

Values- systems of care are:

• Youth guided and family driven;
• Community-based;
• Culturally and linguistically competent.

Principles- systems of care provide for:

• Service coordination or case management;
• Prevention and early identification and intervention;
• Smooth transitions among child and youth-serving agencies and providers, and to the adult service system;
• Human rights protection and advocacy;
• Nondiscrimination in access to services;
• A comprehensive array of services;
• Individualized service planning;
• Services in the least restrictive environment;
• Family participation in ALL aspects of planning, service delivery, and evaluation;
• Integrated services, with coordinated planning across the child-serving systems.

  Information derived from the SAMSHA Family Guide.